After her return to El gordo y la flaca (Univision), Lili Estefan dedicated part of this Monday’s program to talk for the first time about the strong controversy that shook the 74th edition of Miss Universe 2025, pageant in which she accompanied her daughter, Lina Luaces, representative of Cuba.
The host, who experienced the events directly from Thailand, shared unpublished details of what she called “a completely unexpected experience”.
From the set of the program, Lili began recounting her surprise at the magnitude of what had happened: “We had to participate in the most controversial Miss Universe in history. I never imagined that when I arrived in Thailand to deliver Lina to the congregation all this would happen. Since we arrived the first day until we left, there has been controversy”.
The presenter explained that the atmosphere of the contest was marked by tensions, comments on social networks and internal situations that are not usually visible to the public.
She said she was particularly affected as she watched the 130 or so candidates deal day in and day out with the hostile environment generated outside and inside the digital platforms.
Solidarity among the Hispanic Miss Universe contestants
One of the most talked about moments occurred when Mexico’s Fatima Bosch, the eventual winner of the pageant, confronted Nawat Itsaragrisil during a meeting. Lili witnessed live the collective reaction that this episode provoked: “We Hispanics had something very special… When Fatima defends herself, stands up to Nawat and leaves the room, everyone followed her. What happened? We all went to a room -I think it was the fifth floor-, we were in Miss Venezuela’s room”.
Estefan explained that this spontaneous act of support greatly strengthened the bonds between the Spanish-speaking delegates. As she explained, from the second day of activities they began to behave as a true unit: “They became friends, they exchanged telephone numbers, they sat down to breakfast together. They did everything together, and that helped a lot to support each other in the midst of everything that was going on.
The hostess also reflected on the wave of criticism that any crowned queen receives in times of social networks. She mentioned her own experience when her daughter Lina was elected Miss Cuba: “It happened to me when Lina won Miss Cuba, they accused us of buying a crown. There is always controversy when a queen wins, and lately more so through social networks”.
However, she pointed out that in this edition the situation reached a level that has rarely been seen within the Miss Universe organization, especially due to the resignation of judges and the public doubt about the process.
Finally, Lili spoke about the triumph of Fatima Bosch, who became the fourth Mexican to win the crown: “I have to congratulate Mexico. The first thing I have to say is that the crown went to the Hispanics, to the Latinos, and that fills me with emotion. Fatima is a girl who has been extremely criticized for winning, but also very much loved because she has a very authentic side of what beauty represents now.
With her characteristic reflective tone, Lili closed by celebrating that, despite all the controversy, the victory of a Latina is a source of pride for the entire Hispanic community.
Here you can see the video of Lili Estefan’s opinion about the Miss Universe controversy.
Find out more at ‘QueOnnda.com’.
